Illegal haul: Customs Department officials displaying the items seized during raids on illicit premises.
KUCHING: Smugglers attempting to traffic in cigarettes worth RM12.6mil with tax included, were thwarted by the Customs Department.
The department seized various brands of cigarettes at an unnamed premises in Jalan Semaba here.
State Customs director Norizan Yahya said during the raid on the morning of Feb 12, authorities also arrested a 44-year-old man.
“An inspection of the premises uncovered 16,656,000 sticks of kretek cigarettes.
“The estimated value of the seized cigarettes is RM1,499,040, while the total duty and tax involved is about RM11,142,864.
“Additionally, a lorry, believed to have been used for transporting the contraband, was seized, with an estimated value of RM80,000,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.
Norizan added that the premises, located in a remote area, is believed to have been a storage facility for smuggled goods, before local distribution.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries a fine of between RM100,000 and RM500,000, jail of six months to five years or both, upon conviction.
“The public is urged to assist the Customs Department in combating smuggling activities, particularly involving cigarettes, liquor, firecrackers, drugs and vehicles.
“They are also cautioned against participating in such illegal activities,” said Norizan.
Meanwhile in Kota Kinabalu, contraband such as alcohol, electrical appliances and cigarettes worth more than RM800,000 was seized in four Customs raids.
Acting state department assistant director-general Saidin Jalaluddin said the items were confiscated from three containers following raids beginning on March 4 at the Sepanggar Port.
“We found alcoholic beverages worth RM809,028 in the containers,” he said in a press conference yesterday.
The second raid was conducted in the city at 2pm the same day, where 751 litres of alcohol worth RM6,723 were seized.
In another raid, Customs confiscated 26,726 sticks of smuggled cigarettes worth RM25,015.
On March 6, a raid was also conducted at the Lahad Datu Express Bus Terminal where 216 rolls of cables and LED lights worth RM5,060 were seized.
“We believe all these were brought into the state illegally,” Saidin said, adding that the contraband was suspected to have been declared as other items when shipped to the state.
The cases will be investigated under the Customs Act 1967.
